Bookrack



July 9, 1968 H. w. STREULI 3,391,793

BOOKRACK Filed NOV. 24, 1965 INVENTOR. HERBERT W STPEUL/ BY fill/Mm United States Patent 3,391,793 BOOKRACK Herbert W. Streuli, 99 Grove Park Road N., Memphis, Tenn. 33117 Filed Nov. 24, 19:35, Ser. No. 599,591 4 laims. (Cl. 211-43) ABSTRAQT OF THE DISCLGSURE A bookrack including a rearward rail member, a forward rail member, a pair of end members, and an intermediate member for supporting a plurality of books arranged optionally on either side of the intermediate member. The rearward edge of the intermediate member rests against the rearward rail member and the intermediate member is provided with slot structure which loosely engages the forward rail member when in a normally book-supporting position.

Summary of the invention The present invention provides a bookrack which includes a pair of rail members supported by end members, and an intermediate member which co-acts with the rail members so that it can be slidably positioned in a normal book-holding position substantially perpendicular to the rail members. The intermediate member is provided with a slot structure which is adapted to engage the forward rail member and is normally prevented from disengaging the forward rail member by the back edge of the intermediate member engaging the rearward rail member, but, if desired, the intermediate member may be turned about a substantially vertical axis to disengage the intermediate member from the forward rail member for the removal thereof. When books are supported by the intermediate member, the intermediate member is adapted to be slightly tilted by the books to frictionally hold the intermediate member in place.

An object of the present invention is to provide a bookrack of substantially simple design and construction.

A further object is to provide a bookrack in which the intermediate member may be easily assembled with the other part of the bookrack and may be easily removed therefrom, if desired.

A further object is to provide a bookrack which is quickly and easily adjusted to support the books and a bookrack for supporting the books in a convenient manner.

A further object is to provide a substantially strong sturdy bookrack which may be readily constructed substantially entirely of wood or other such material.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will be readily understood upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bookrack of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken as on the line III-III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken as on the line IV-lV of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of a modified embodiment of the intermediate member of the present invention.

In the drawings, the bookrack is indicated generally by numeral 11 and includes basically a forward rail member 13, a rearward rail member 15, a pair of end members 17, 17, and an intermediate member 19. Except for the fastening means in the bookrack device, it is 3,391,793 Patented July 9, 1968 preferably constructed entirely of wood material, but may be constructed of any other suitable material without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Forward and rearward rail members 13, 15 are preferably of like size and configuration; also, end members 17, 17 are alike. The inside surfaces 21, 21' respectively of end members 17, 17' are respectively abuttingly joined with the opposite end surfaces of rail members 13, 15. End members 17, 17 rigidly secure the forward and rearward rail members in parallel relationship and the flat upper surface 23 of rail member 13 and the fiat forward surface 25 of rail member 15 are right angularly arranged. Surfaces 23, 25 respectively of forward and rearward rail members 13, 15 are adapted to engage respectively adjacent or intersecting side edges of a book B (see FIG. 3). Rail members 13, 15 preferably are respectively obliquely secured to the respective end members 17, 17 and support book B in a tilted position. The rearward edge surfaces 27, 27 respectively of end members 17, 17 preferably extend vertically. The upper forward edge portions respectively of end members 17, 17' are preferably rounded and define respectively rearwardly curved forward edge surfaces 29, 29'.

Intermediate member 19 is slidably supported on forward and rearward rail members 13, 15 and provides the adjustable bookend means of the bookrack device. Intermediate member 19 is somewhat similar to end members 17, 17' and includes a rearward edge surface 31 and a forward edge curved surface 33. A U-shaped slot, indicated 35, is formed in the lower forward portion of intermediate member 19. Slot 35 is open at the forward end thereof and is defined substantially by parallel upper and lower surfaces 37, 39 respectively. Intermediate member 19 is supported on rail members 13, 15 with upper surface 37 of slot 35 engaging upper surface 23 of rail member 13, and with rearward edge surface 31 restingly engaging forward surface 25 of rail member 15. The relative sizes respectively of forward rail member 13 and slot 35 is such that intermediate member 19 snugly fits but is freely movable along forward rail member 13. A plurality of juxtaposedly arranged books may optionally be disposed on either side of intermediate member 19. Intermediate member 19 when held in a perpendicular disposition may optionally be moved to the right or left to provide bookend means for books disposed on either side of the intermediate member. Intermediate member 19 cants outwardly away from the books to lock the intermediate member on rail member 13; the canted disposition of member 19 bindingly engages the upper and lower surfaces 37, 39 of the slotted portion of the member respectively with the upper and lower surfaces 23, 41 of forward rail member 13. When a plurality of books are supported on the right side of member 19 (as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2), the member will be canted to the left as indicated by letter X in FIG. 2. By the same token, when books are supported on the left of intermediate member 19, the member will be canted toward the right as indicated by letter Y. In certain embodiments of the bookrack device, it may be desirable to have two or more intermediate members 19, as for example in a bookcase embodiment having substantially long length. In such a bookcase embodiment, the books may then be optionally placed between a movable intermediate member and a fixed end member or between two intermediate members.

Intermediate member 19 may be removed or rearranged along forward rail member 13. Intermediate member 19 may be removed from the remainder of the device by turnably manipulating the member about a substantially vertical axis. Turning the intermediate memher thusly disengages the slotted portion thereof from forward rail member 13 and member 19 may then be lifted upwardly. Substantially the reverse of the abovedescribed actions are carried out in rea-ssembling the intermediate member.

The modified intermediate member 43 shown in FIG. functions in the same manner as intermediate member 19 and has the same structure except that the slot 45 therein which corresponds to the slot 35 is formed by means of a plate member 47. In other words, instead of cutting the slot out of the wood as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. l-4, the wood is cut in the shape shown in FIG. 5 and plate member 47 is attached to the heel portion 49 as by fastening members 51 to establish slot 45.

The bookrack of the present invention may be quickly and easily adjusted to support books on either side of the adjustable intermediate member. The bookrack is strong, sturdy and of substantially simple design. It may be economically constructed. In summary, the device of the present invention provides very practical bookrack means for supporting and displaying books in a convenient way.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A table top type bookrack comprising aforward rail member, a rearward rail member spaced rearwardly and upwardly from said forward rail member, oppositely disposed vertically extending end member support means fixedly supporting said forward and rearward rail members in parallel spaced relationship, a vertically extending intermediate member including a forward edge surface and a straight rearward edge surface and rigid slot structure defining a slot in the lower portion of said intermediate member with said slot extending in a direction away from said rearward edge surface and opening forwardly remote from said rearward edge surface, said intermediate member being normally arranged in a normal position substantially perpendicular to said forward and rearward rail members with said slot structure loosely engagingsaid forward rail member and with said rearward edge surface thereof restingly engaging said rearward rail member and limiting rearward movement of said intermediate member to prevent accidental removal of said intermediate member when in said normal position, said intermediate member being longitudinally slidable and adjustable along said forward and rearward rail members for supporting a plurality of juxtaposedly arranged books optionally disposed on either side of said intermediate member and said intermediate member being adapted to frictionally engage said forward rail member when books are placed thereagainst to hold said intermediate member in place, said intermediate member being t-urnable about a substantially vertical axis to disengage said intermediate member from said forward rail member for the removal of said intermediate member.

2. The bookrack of claim 1 in which said slot opens towards said forward edge surface and said intermediate member is arranged with said slot structure straddling said forward rail member.

3. The bookrack of claim 1 in which said forward and rearward rail members respectively have longitudinally uniform surfaces disposed in right angular relationship with one another, said slot opens towards said forward edge surface and said intermediate member is arranged with said slot structure straddling said forward rail member and with said rearward edge surface restingly engaging said longitudinally uniform surface of said rearward rail member. I

4. The bookrack of claim 1 in which said forward rail member has substantially fiat oppositely facing longitudinally extending upper and lower surfaces, said rearward rail member has a substantially flat longitudinally extending surface disposed at a right angle relative to said upper and lower surfaces of said forward rail member, said intermediate member includes opposingly arranged substantially parallel upper and lower surfaces, said slot is defined by said parallel upper and lower surfaces of said intermediate member and said intermediate member is detachably engaged with said forward and rearward rail members with said upper and lower parallel surfaces of said slot structure loosely engaging respectively said upper and lower surfaces of said forward rail member and with said rearward edge surface of said intermediate member restingly engaging said flat longitudinally extending surface of said rearward rail member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 161,293 3/1875 Stoddard 211-184 338,674 8/1888 Harrington 211-43 575,294 1/1897 Borden 211-184 1,363,138 12/ 1920 Markham 21143 1,675,269 6/1928 Hine. 1,700,212 1/1929 Arlt 211-134 X 2,346,150 4/1944 Brown 211-184 X 2,626,063 1/1953 Echlin 211-43 X 3,164,254 1/1965 Garc 211-42 3,171,542 3/1965 Jacobs 211-43 FOREIGN PATENTS 23,617 1903 Great Britain. 603,688 6/ 1948 Great Britain.

ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

A. FRANKEL, Assistant Examiner. 

